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Freedman/Johnson #2
Eine Handvoll Senfkörner
Bestsellerautorin Laila Ibrahim beschreibt in der einfühlsamen Fortsetzung von »Gelber Krokus«, wie drei ungleiche Frauen auf eine Plantage in Virginia zurückkehren, wo einige Jahre nach dem Ende des Bürgerkriegs Freiheit ungeachtet der Hautfarbe noch immer eine Illusion ist.
Ohio, 1868: Lisbeths Vater liegt im Sterben. Um ihn noch einmal zu sehen, reist die junge Frau zur Plantage Fair Oaks, wo sie einst aufgewachsen ist. Doch in Virginia scheint die Zeit stehen geblieben. Ihre Familie glaubt immer noch an die Ideale der Südstaaten und kann ihr nicht verzeihen, dass sie sich den Werten des freien Nordens verschrieben hat.
Auch die entflohene Sklavin Mattie Freedman, einst Lisbeths geliebtes Kindermädchen, ist auf dem Weg nach Fair Oaks. Sie will eine Verwandte in den sicheren Norden bringen. Mattie reist nicht allein – ihre erwachsenen Kinder begleiten sie, beide studiert und gebildet. Doch sie sind machtlos gegen die willkürliche Gewalt, die ihnen entgegenschlägt, insbesondere von Lisbeths Bruder …
»Eine Handvoll Senfkörner« ist die Fortsetzung von »Gelber Krokus«. Die Bücher können unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2017
8270 people are currently reading
22554 people want to read
About the author
Laila Ibrahim
9 books2,220 followersMy education and experience in multiracial, developmental psychology and attachment theory provide ample fodder for my novels. My passion for early childhood education, child birth and religious education are reflected in my writing.
I was the founder and director of Woolsey Children's School where I had first hand experience loving children that were not my own. There are scenes in Yellow Crocus that were largely influenced interactions I had with children from Woolsey.
As a birth doula I had the privilege of witnessing the intensity and joy of childbirth. You can see that my birth experiences are reflected in my novels.
Spiritual themes that cross over multiple religious traditions come directly from working as the Director of Children and Family Ministries at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland.
I live in a small co-housing community in Berkeley, California, with my wonderful wife, Rinda and our beloved dog, Hazel. Our young adult children are our pride and joy.
I'm very grateful to be a full time writer starting in 2015.
I was surprised when the writing bug bit me. The idea for the story came to me in 1998, I was with a group of people talking about Tiger Woods. Someone mentioned that he identifies as much as an Asian person as an African-American person. I thought to myself, "Of course he does, his mother is Asian. You form your core identity in relationship to your primary caregivers. It's a basic part of the attachment process."
Then the image of Lisbeth, a white baby, breastfeeding in the loving arms of Mattie, an enslaved wetnurse came to me in a flash. I thought about what it would be like for Lisbeth to dearly love Mattie and then be taught by society that she wasn't a full person. I wondered how it would feel for Mattie to be forced to abandon Samuel, her own child, in the slave Quarters. Then I imagined what the experience would be like for Miss Anne, the birth mother, to have her own child twist away from her to get into Mattie's arms. These characters started to haunt me. Various scenes popped into my head. Though I had never written anything, I was being called to tell this story. For my fortieth birthday, I began the personal marathon of writing my first novel. I hope you will come to love these characters as much as I have.
At face value Living Right seems like a big leap from Yellow Crocus, but it deals with the same themes: a caregiver loving across a huge societal barrier.
I LOVED returning to Mattie, Lisbeth and Jordan for Mustard Seed. The story of finding faith in hopeless times really resonates for me. I plan to return to their families' ongoing journey after I finish my current novel-Paper Wife.
Paper Wife focuses on Mei Ling, a young Chinese woman immigrating to San Francisco through Angel Island a in the early 1920's. Reactionary anti-immigration laws in the United States and warfare in China caused people desperate for survival to be misleading about their identities so they could be united with family and have access to work. Mei Ling yearns to have a life of integrity though it was built on a foundation of lies.
Golden Poppies returns to the Freedman and Johnson families. It was fascinating to bring them to California, to look at the suffrage movement, and to see how they could keep their connection strong in spite of the very different social worlds they occupied.
I'm feeling a tug to bring the descendants of these families to the 2000s. Scarlet Carnation gets us to World War 1. I'm just starting the World War 2 era novel.
I was the founder and director of Woolsey Children's School where I had first hand experience loving children that were not my own. There are scenes in Yellow Crocus that were largely influenced interactions I had with children from Woolsey.
As a birth doula I had the privilege of witnessing the intensity and joy of childbirth. You can see that my birth experiences are reflected in my novels.
Spiritual themes that cross over multiple religious traditions come directly from working as the Director of Children and Family Ministries at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland.
I live in a small co-housing community in Berkeley, California, with my wonderful wife, Rinda and our beloved dog, Hazel. Our young adult children are our pride and joy.
I'm very grateful to be a full time writer starting in 2015.
I was surprised when the writing bug bit me. The idea for the story came to me in 1998, I was with a group of people talking about Tiger Woods. Someone mentioned that he identifies as much as an Asian person as an African-American person. I thought to myself, "Of course he does, his mother is Asian. You form your core identity in relationship to your primary caregivers. It's a basic part of the attachment process."
Then the image of Lisbeth, a white baby, breastfeeding in the loving arms of Mattie, an enslaved wetnurse came to me in a flash. I thought about what it would be like for Lisbeth to dearly love Mattie and then be taught by society that she wasn't a full person. I wondered how it would feel for Mattie to be forced to abandon Samuel, her own child, in the slave Quarters. Then I imagined what the experience would be like for Miss Anne, the birth mother, to have her own child twist away from her to get into Mattie's arms. These characters started to haunt me. Various scenes popped into my head. Though I had never written anything, I was being called to tell this story. For my fortieth birthday, I began the personal marathon of writing my first novel. I hope you will come to love these characters as much as I have.
At face value Living Right seems like a big leap from Yellow Crocus, but it deals with the same themes: a caregiver loving across a huge societal barrier.
I LOVED returning to Mattie, Lisbeth and Jordan for Mustard Seed. The story of finding faith in hopeless times really resonates for me. I plan to return to their families' ongoing journey after I finish my current novel-Paper Wife.
Paper Wife focuses on Mei Ling, a young Chinese woman immigrating to San Francisco through Angel Island a in the early 1920's. Reactionary anti-immigration laws in the United States and warfare in China caused people desperate for survival to be misleading about their identities so they could be united with family and have access to work. Mei Ling yearns to have a life of integrity though it was built on a foundation of lies.
Golden Poppies returns to the Freedman and Johnson families. It was fascinating to bring them to California, to look at the suffrage movement, and to see how they could keep their connection strong in spite of the very different social worlds they occupied.
I'm feeling a tug to bring the descendants of these families to the 2000s. Scarlet Carnation gets us to World War 1. I'm just starting the World War 2 era novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,558 reviews
May 13, 2025
Why I chose to read this book:
1. having read Yellow Crocus a couple of years ago. I was interested in reading its sequel. Both books were gifted by my daughter; and,
2. May 2025 is my self-declared "I and J Authors" Month!
Praises:
This story picks up 19 years after Yellow Crocus and focuses on the Reconstruction Era, specifically in Virginia which confirmed my knowledge about this setting.
Niggles:
Like Yellow Crocus, this one is similar in overall writing style - simplistic, light, and predictable.
Overall Thoughts:
I was hoping for something grittier. Perhaps this is more suited to the YA genre since it seems to be quite light based on this particular historical subject matter.
If this is your reading preference, three more novels follow in this series to date:
- Golden Poppies;
- Scarlet Carnation; and,
- Falling Wisteria.
1. having read Yellow Crocus a couple of years ago. I was interested in reading its sequel. Both books were gifted by my daughter; and,
2. May 2025 is my self-declared "I and J Authors" Month!
Praises:
This story picks up 19 years after Yellow Crocus and focuses on the Reconstruction Era, specifically in Virginia which confirmed my knowledge about this setting.
Niggles:
Like Yellow Crocus, this one is similar in overall writing style - simplistic, light, and predictable.
Overall Thoughts:
I was hoping for something grittier. Perhaps this is more suited to the YA genre since it seems to be quite light based on this particular historical subject matter.
If this is your reading preference, three more novels follow in this series to date:
- Golden Poppies;
- Scarlet Carnation; and,
- Falling Wisteria.
June 24, 2020
When Lisbeth Johnson was summoned by her mother to return to her home in Virginia as her father was dying, her thoughts were mixed. She had escaped her family home after refusing to marry the man her parents had readied for her – a cruel, brutal man – and in marrying Matthew had estranged her mother, father and brother Jack. But she felt it right to return to her father’s side and took her two children, six-year-old Sadie and nine-year-old Sammy to visit.
Meanwhile, also in Ohio, Mattie Freedman, who was Lisbeth’s much-loved nurse, plus Jordan and Samuel, Mattie’s children, were making their way to Virginia to bring Mattie’s sister Sarah back home with them. But Sarah refused to leave without her two daughters who had been taken from her three years prior, sold to another plantation, even though they were supposedly free. Ella and Sophia were out there somewhere, and Mattie was determined to find them so she could bring her sister and nieces home.
But there were still people in Virginia who wouldn’t respect the ways of the Negro, using and abusing them for their own benefit. What would happen when Lisbeth and Mattie joined forces to free their families from the horrors of the past?
Mustard Seed is the 2nd in the Yellow Crocus series by Laila Ibrahim and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s writing brings her surroundings to life; the echoes of slavery are still there wherever one looks; the mustard seeds – kept on each character’s person - are a symbol of hope to the families. I loved Yellow Crocus which I read last year and when I discovered #3 was due for release, I immediately bought Mustard Seed to read before Golden Poppies. A wonderful, heart wrenching novel, Mustard Seed is one I highly recommend.
Meanwhile, also in Ohio, Mattie Freedman, who was Lisbeth’s much-loved nurse, plus Jordan and Samuel, Mattie’s children, were making their way to Virginia to bring Mattie’s sister Sarah back home with them. But Sarah refused to leave without her two daughters who had been taken from her three years prior, sold to another plantation, even though they were supposedly free. Ella and Sophia were out there somewhere, and Mattie was determined to find them so she could bring her sister and nieces home.
But there were still people in Virginia who wouldn’t respect the ways of the Negro, using and abusing them for their own benefit. What would happen when Lisbeth and Mattie joined forces to free their families from the horrors of the past?
Mustard Seed is the 2nd in the Yellow Crocus series by Laila Ibrahim and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s writing brings her surroundings to life; the echoes of slavery are still there wherever one looks; the mustard seeds – kept on each character’s person - are a symbol of hope to the families. I loved Yellow Crocus which I read last year and when I discovered #3 was due for release, I immediately bought Mustard Seed to read before Golden Poppies. A wonderful, heart wrenching novel, Mustard Seed is one I highly recommend.
November 13, 2017
I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mustard seed is a wonderful novel that captured my heart. This story conveys how people had created disparities between their skin color and how the slavery in past America had created a harsh background for the dark skinned people.
The author has managed to express the strong bond between Lisbeth (fair skinned) and Mattie (dark skinned and Lisbeth's beloved nurse) and how they had overcome their obstacles by being together. The story coveys about the faith and belief that one should have in one's heart regardless of the skin color.
A lovely story.
Mustard seed is a wonderful novel that captured my heart. This story conveys how people had created disparities between their skin color and how the slavery in past America had created a harsh background for the dark skinned people.
The author has managed to express the strong bond between Lisbeth (fair skinned) and Mattie (dark skinned and Lisbeth's beloved nurse) and how they had overcome their obstacles by being together. The story coveys about the faith and belief that one should have in one's heart regardless of the skin color.
A lovely story.
October 2, 2020
I first read “Yellow Crocus” by Laila Ibrahim and absolutely enjoyed it. I just finished reading “Mustard Seed” by Ibrahim the second book in her series. I was not expecting it to be as good but I was wrong “Mustard Seed” is every bit as good as “Yellow Crocus”. I am now starting the third book in the series “Golden Poppies”. The way Ibrahim has written her books you do not have to read them in a series but happy that I am. I am completely confident “Golden Poppies” will be just as incredible as the other two.
November 16, 2017
What an incredible book! And I mean that sincerely! I would give "Mustard Seed" 10 stars if I could. This book is so apropos to what is going on in our country today. It gave me a lot to think about personally and a huge amount of "uncomfortableness" (I know that's not a word) with the world I live in.
The story itself takes place in post Civil War in Ohio and Virginia thus showing the differences between North and South after the War. I will not go into specifics because I had none when I started and think it is well worth going in with no expectations.
I suggest reading the author's first book first, "Yellow Crocus." The characters and story will make much more sense. But it is a book everyone should read. It is a part of US history come to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
The story itself takes place in post Civil War in Ohio and Virginia thus showing the differences between North and South after the War. I will not go into specifics because I had none when I started and think it is well worth going in with no expectations.
I suggest reading the author's first book first, "Yellow Crocus." The characters and story will make much more sense. But it is a book everyone should read. It is a part of US history come to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
May 30, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the "Yellow Crocus", so when I realized that this book was continuation of the story I was really excited to read it; and I was not disappointed at all. I didn't realize how much I craved to hear the rest of the story and to follow the journey of all these fascinating characters.
December 31, 2018
It was a good post-Civil War story of injustice, freedom and faith. Started slow and some parts of the plot didn't work for me but some parts were entertaining and nail biting. The first book, Yellow Crocus was better imho.
September 12, 2018
This is a time in history that I feel definitely deserves more written about it.
That being said, this book just wasn’t it. A second book was just not necessary. I enjoyed the first one and the characters, but this...the characters were forced and so overly... stereotypical? Fake? ...not sure the right word but it came across absurdly ridiculous.
The children were so out of context in their behavior for the time period that it was hard to bear their conversations. The adults too! It was like a children’s cartoon made specifically for school for teaching. Things were overly explained it felt forced down your throat when you had already made the realizations or connection on your own. The moments meant to tug at your heart or anger you instead played out like a bad actor over dramatizing a scene so much you forget the story and cringe at the bad acting. It was so unlike the writing of the first I’m not sure why it was done. I was sad it failed me so miserably as I do feel the time period and issues addressed are so very important to be aware of, and educated on, but this fell so very short of its potential.
That being said, this book just wasn’t it. A second book was just not necessary. I enjoyed the first one and the characters, but this...the characters were forced and so overly... stereotypical? Fake? ...not sure the right word but it came across absurdly ridiculous.
The children were so out of context in their behavior for the time period that it was hard to bear their conversations. The adults too! It was like a children’s cartoon made specifically for school for teaching. Things were overly explained it felt forced down your throat when you had already made the realizations or connection on your own. The moments meant to tug at your heart or anger you instead played out like a bad actor over dramatizing a scene so much you forget the story and cringe at the bad acting. It was so unlike the writing of the first I’m not sure why it was done. I was sad it failed me so miserably as I do feel the time period and issues addressed are so very important to be aware of, and educated on, but this fell so very short of its potential.
November 19, 2017
Minority opinion
Clearly I am in the minority here. But for me the storyline and characters were overshadowed by the history particularly in the first half of the book. The era is history that hasn't gotten a lot of attention and I found the book informative in that way. I just was disappointed that portions of the book seemed focused on educating the reader on the history instead of blending the history into the storyline.
Clearly I am in the minority here. But for me the storyline and characters were overshadowed by the history particularly in the first half of the book. The era is history that hasn't gotten a lot of attention and I found the book informative in that way. I just was disappointed that portions of the book seemed focused on educating the reader on the history instead of blending the history into the storyline.
December 22, 2020
Although a tough read sometimes, I loved Yellow Crocus, especially the relationship between Mattie and Lisbeth. In this next book, the reader gets to know what happens next to them and their families. Still a tough read at times, it was good to have them back.
January 1, 2018
This is the second book in the series after Yellow Crocus. It's great to catch up with the family and how things are now. When Lisbeth Johnson,who was born into privilege in the antebellum South is called back home by her mother she must go,her father is dying. She is estranged from her family, their beliefs are not her own and she made a clean break when she married. Her family believes in slavery and all that entails and she knows it's wrong. Family is family though,blood is thicker than water and attend to her dying father she must . Her conscience won't let her deny her family. Once home she must face the Confederate family she betrayed by marrying an abolitionist. Characters we met in the first book Jordan and Mattie return to Fair Oaks, too, to save the family they left behind, who still toil in oppression. Family is not just family by blood,it's also by adoption and marriage. Oftentimes,as it's shown in this book the children,even the adult children don't comprehend or appreciate the hardships and sacrifices their parents have gone through to make sure their children have a better life than them.
Amazing book! I look forward to reading more by this author!
Pub Date 07 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Amazing book! I look forward to reading more by this author!
Pub Date 07 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 24, 2022
The second book in the Freedman/Johnson Trilogy. Even better than the first: Yellow Crocus.
The saga of Mattie, Jordan and Samuel Freedman; Lisbeth Johnson.
It is 15 years or so after the end of Book 1. Lisbeth is now married and has two children. She has traveled from Oberlin Ohio to Virginia.
The Freedmans are from Oberlin Ohio too, although the Freedmans and Johnsons have very little interaction there.
Lisbeth is called home to her dying father’s bedside and she decides to take both children with her to see their grandparents and her childhood home.
Mattie has decided it is time to head south to rescue her remaining family that are still living on the plantation. She demands that both her son and daughter accompany her to help and see where their roots are from. They are especially looking for Ella and Sophia, children sold from their mother Sarah.
I was extremely impressed by this book:
Lisbeth was brought up by Mattie; her own mother rarely interacting with her and relegating her upbringing to Mattie, her Negro slave. As a result, I think that Lisbeth is very sensitive to the Negro plight and she has brought up her children to be sensitive as well. The whole Johnson family attitude brought warmth to my heart.
I also learned that despite the freeing of slaves, many in the South were still treated as slaves. The hateful Southerners captured Samuel, a lawyer, and jailed him on charges of vagrancy. He was then leased to a plantation to cut tobacco.
There are MANY characters in this book and the author has been kind enough to include a full list of names and relationships.
After reading 2 of her books, I must say that Laila Ibrahim is one of my favorite authors.
5 stars
The saga of Mattie, Jordan and Samuel Freedman; Lisbeth Johnson.
It is 15 years or so after the end of Book 1. Lisbeth is now married and has two children. She has traveled from Oberlin Ohio to Virginia.
The Freedmans are from Oberlin Ohio too, although the Freedmans and Johnsons have very little interaction there.
Lisbeth is called home to her dying father’s bedside and she decides to take both children with her to see their grandparents and her childhood home.
Mattie has decided it is time to head south to rescue her remaining family that are still living on the plantation. She demands that both her son and daughter accompany her to help and see where their roots are from. They are especially looking for Ella and Sophia, children sold from their mother Sarah.
I was extremely impressed by this book:
Lisbeth was brought up by Mattie; her own mother rarely interacting with her and relegating her upbringing to Mattie, her Negro slave. As a result, I think that Lisbeth is very sensitive to the Negro plight and she has brought up her children to be sensitive as well. The whole Johnson family attitude brought warmth to my heart.
I also learned that despite the freeing of slaves, many in the South were still treated as slaves. The hateful Southerners captured Samuel, a lawyer, and jailed him on charges of vagrancy. He was then leased to a plantation to cut tobacco.
There are MANY characters in this book and the author has been kind enough to include a full list of names and relationships.
After reading 2 of her books, I must say that Laila Ibrahim is one of my favorite authors.
5 stars
November 9, 2025
This was just as good as the first book in this series in my opinion.
To watch the strength of the three female main characters (Mattie, Lisbeth and Jordan) was inspiring saying that the time period in which this was set wouldn’t allow such a concept.
Little Sadie might be my favorite on this one. Her heart was sooo big because of how big her mother’s (Lisbeth) was.
So many people on this pissed me off beyond belief but I’m glad this story was wrapped up with a bow and left a few messages behind for the reader to take with us.
All we need in this life are a few mustard seeds
💪🏾🌱🙌🏾
To watch the strength of the three female main characters (Mattie, Lisbeth and Jordan) was inspiring saying that the time period in which this was set wouldn’t allow such a concept.
Little Sadie might be my favorite on this one. Her heart was sooo big because of how big her mother’s (Lisbeth) was.
So many people on this pissed me off beyond belief but I’m glad this story was wrapped up with a bow and left a few messages behind for the reader to take with us.
All we need in this life are a few mustard seeds
💪🏾🌱🙌🏾
June 24, 2018
3.5/5. Interesting story about 3 women returning back to Richmond, Virginia, 3 years after the end of the Civil War. Lisbeth Johnson left her wealthy family and plantation behind 18 years earlier when she ended her family-endorsed engagement to another plantation owner to marry an abolitionist and fellow Virginian. She and her husband left her acrimonious family behind to move to Ohio where he fought under the Union flag and where they are bringing up their young children in a loving and peaceful environment, living and working in proximity with people of colour including former slaves such as her old nurse, Mattie Freedman and Mattie's family. With news of her father dying, Lisbeth takes her children back to visit her family after years of estrangement. Coincidentally, Mattie decides to take her two adult children back to Richmond to persuade her cousin to join them, as cousin Sally still remains on the plantation in oppressed servitude despite the supposed freedom to all slaves brought about by the end of the war. Through their eyes, we see that cruelty, racism and injustice remains long after the war, fueled by the resentment and anger of plantation owners who had lost money, loved ones and sometimes own limbs and physical health to the ravages of the war and who therefore sought to avenge their losses and pride on those 'slaves' remaining behind, too weak, too intimidated, too stunned to leave. And even when they had the courage to leave, the law did little to protect their proclaimed freedom, not when the law was meted out by white plantation owners themselves.
The history is fascinating, describing a horrible time not very frequently covered in stories. It is chilling to learn that the atrocities committed against slaves and former slaves in the South continued long after the Thirteenth Amendment was passed because there were no one to enforce the new law. While this book tells an important story, the tone of the book is too factual and unsentimental for a novel. Coupled this with some less than realistic plot twists, it makes for a somewhat uneven read. I don't think this book is classified as Christian Fiction, although it probably ought to be as there is a fair bit of references to faith and God.
The history is fascinating, describing a horrible time not very frequently covered in stories. It is chilling to learn that the atrocities committed against slaves and former slaves in the South continued long after the Thirteenth Amendment was passed because there were no one to enforce the new law. While this book tells an important story, the tone of the book is too factual and unsentimental for a novel. Coupled this with some less than realistic plot twists, it makes for a somewhat uneven read. I don't think this book is classified as Christian Fiction, although it probably ought to be as there is a fair bit of references to faith and God.
June 2, 2021
Another wonderful book! Story of how blacks are free but Va is not recognizing it openly. Black and white with trust come together to defeat the angry black man.
Well written fast paced book. Now for the last is the series!
Well written fast paced book. Now for the last is the series!
May 4, 2022
This is a sequel to Yellow Crocus, which was a deeply compelling read. It takes place a few years after the end of the Civil War, when both Lisbeth Johnson and Mattie Freedman need to return to Virginia for family reasons: Lisbeth’s father is dying and Mattie needs to convince her niece Sarah to return with her to Oberlin, Ohio where she will be truly free. Although the war is over, and theoretically the Blacks have been freed, not much has changed in Virginia. Whites attitude towards Blacks remain the same, and many Blacks are forced to work for free under intolerable conditions. Lisbeth’s family is still bitter about her marrying Matthew and moving North. They blame her for all the difficulties they have endured since.
Mattie and Lisbeth don’t know at first that the other is there, but once they do, they join forces to help each other save their families and their kith, as well as each other.
All the characters are wonderfully portrayed. You just get sucked into the story, which is well paced. I believe there is a third book in this series, and I am looking forward to reading it.
An absolute recommend.
Mattie and Lisbeth don’t know at first that the other is there, but once they do, they join forces to help each other save their families and their kith, as well as each other.
All the characters are wonderfully portrayed. You just get sucked into the story, which is well paced. I believe there is a third book in this series, and I am looking forward to reading it.
An absolute recommend.
January 14, 2024
I was worried it had been too long since I read the first in the series. There was enough in this to remind me where Yellow Crocus left off that I wasn't all at sea. In fact, one could read this without reading that one and be OK, but I think the experience is much better for reading them in order.
This begins in 1868, so three years after the end of the US Civil War. Soon we are set down in Virginia and the horrors of the post war are on the page in front of us. The hatred and venom of the southerners is almost too much to bear, but we know those who fought for the north also still suffer. I suspect this is true in any war, but perhaps more so in a nation's civil war.
This begins in 1868, so three years after the end of the US Civil War. Soon we are set down in Virginia and the horrors of the post war are on the page in front of us. The hatred and venom of the southerners is almost too much to bear, but we know those who fought for the north also still suffer. I suspect this is true in any war, but perhaps more so in a nation's civil war.
Throughout the United States, so many families believed the conflict was behind them, but it wasn’t. In homes, cities, and states the war raged on—inside of those who had fought it. For all of them the certain line between good and evil had permanently blurred. They’d battled and lost, no matter the specific outcome of each skirmish. There was no winning when success meant you had destroyed another American—someone’s son, husband, or father.Ibrahim's writing style isn't drop dead gorgeous, but neither does it get in the way of what she has to say. I like her story telling. I want to know what happens next in the lives of these characters. I am fortunate to be able to pick up the next in the series immediately. For me, this is 4-stars. Good and better than OK, but not literature worth another star.
June 7, 2019
Me ha gustado, pero es más duro y está tratado el tema de una forma distinta que en La flor del azafrán amarillo. El primero, previo a la guerra de secesión, a pesar del tema, te deja con un buen sabor de boca, con la ilusión de de ver que comienzan unas nuevas vidas, aunque por las fechas, sabes que se avecinan tiempos muy duros. Pero acaba ahí.
El segundo arranca un poco después de terminar la guerra, empieza mostrando esas nuevas vidas, los logros que han alcanzado, familias humildes, trabajadoras y felices que por diversos motivos tienen que volver a su lugar de origen para mostrarnos el odio, el rencor, ... la vuelta a un pasado que bien poco ha cambiado. La resaca de una guerra.
Juega con las voces de los niños para decir verdades como puños, juega con todos para cuestionar un modo de vida que no ha cambiado a pesar de las nuevas leyes y para remarcar la gran diferencia entre los dos mundos: libertad e igualdad frente a opresión y discriminación.
Tal vez sea un estilo más directo, más detallado en algunos pasajes o que no tiene ese sútil equilibrio entre dolor, amor, crudeza y esperanza que tenía el primero, pero aunque también termine de regreso a sus hogares y un largo camino por recorrer, te deja con peor cuerpo.
Aún así, también recomiendo su lectura.
Valoración: 8/10
Lectura: Junio 2019
El segundo arranca un poco después de terminar la guerra, empieza mostrando esas nuevas vidas, los logros que han alcanzado, familias humildes, trabajadoras y felices que por diversos motivos tienen que volver a su lugar de origen para mostrarnos el odio, el rencor, ... la vuelta a un pasado que bien poco ha cambiado. La resaca de una guerra.
Juega con las voces de los niños para decir verdades como puños, juega con todos para cuestionar un modo de vida que no ha cambiado a pesar de las nuevas leyes y para remarcar la gran diferencia entre los dos mundos: libertad e igualdad frente a opresión y discriminación.
Tal vez sea un estilo más directo, más detallado en algunos pasajes o que no tiene ese sútil equilibrio entre dolor, amor, crudeza y esperanza que tenía el primero, pero aunque también termine de regreso a sus hogares y un largo camino por recorrer, te deja con peor cuerpo.
Aún así, también recomiendo su lectura.
Valoración: 8/10
Lectura: Junio 2019
August 10, 2019
3.5 🌟 rounded up to 4
June 18, 2023
No puedo hablar mucho de este libro porque es continuación de “La flor del azafrán amarillo” pero recomiendo enormemente ambos.
En esta historia volvemos a coincidir con las protagonistas del libro anterior, han pasado unos años y los Estados Confederados han perdido la guerra y como consecuencia se ha abolido la esclavitud, pero en el sur del país no han quedado muy de acuerdo con el resultado y aun quedan coletazos de lo que fue.
Los personajes de esta historia vuelven a ser tan entrañables como eran, tienen que volver a sus orígenes por una serie de acontecimientos y es muy curioso ver que retroceder al miedo y la inseguridad es un ejercicio muy complicado.
El ser humano nunca deja de sorprenderme para mal, y años atrás como podían ser tan crueles unos con otros sin importar edad, sexo ni condición.
Si queréis saber más de la segregación racial americana tratada de forma muy lírica y bella, os recomiendo encarecidamente estos libros. A mi me han encantado.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
En esta historia volvemos a coincidir con las protagonistas del libro anterior, han pasado unos años y los Estados Confederados han perdido la guerra y como consecuencia se ha abolido la esclavitud, pero en el sur del país no han quedado muy de acuerdo con el resultado y aun quedan coletazos de lo que fue.
Los personajes de esta historia vuelven a ser tan entrañables como eran, tienen que volver a sus orígenes por una serie de acontecimientos y es muy curioso ver que retroceder al miedo y la inseguridad es un ejercicio muy complicado.
El ser humano nunca deja de sorprenderme para mal, y años atrás como podían ser tan crueles unos con otros sin importar edad, sexo ni condición.
Si queréis saber más de la segregación racial americana tratada de forma muy lírica y bella, os recomiendo encarecidamente estos libros. A mi me han encantado.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
September 25, 2020
This is a sequel to Yellow Crocus. The fact that I read it right away after the first book says something about how captivated I was by the story. Yellow Crocus took place before the American Civil War. This one takes place just after. People who were children or babies in the first book have grown up into young adults. Slaves have been freed, at least in law.
Between the two books, I've learned two things about this period of history that I didn't know before. Originally, slaves were to work a set amount of time and then 'earn' their freedom. That law was changed so the land owners could make better profits. Sounds like things are very much the same in government then as now!
The other thing is that the thirteenth amendment didn't make a lot of difference to many 'former' slaves lives. I knew that many had nowhere to go and continued to work for their former masters. I knew that attitudes don't change overnight. What I learned from this book was that former slaves could be charged with vagrancy if they couldn't prove they were employed and leased out to work on the plantations, as if nothing had changed.
There's no candy coating in either of the books. The horrors of having children taken away and being treated like abused animals is brought home in the stories of people's lives. The 'N' word is used where historically accurate. But the main characters include white people too, some who are a product of their entitled environment and then there's Lisbeth, who rejects that attitude, having been effectively brought up by her black nurse and recognising the wrongs in how slaves were treated.
Both of these books had me putting aside all my other reads to see what happened. The writing wasn't quite as good in this one as the first one, but it still held my interest more than most books. Very highly recommended.
Between the two books, I've learned two things about this period of history that I didn't know before. Originally, slaves were to work a set amount of time and then 'earn' their freedom. That law was changed so the land owners could make better profits. Sounds like things are very much the same in government then as now!
The other thing is that the thirteenth amendment didn't make a lot of difference to many 'former' slaves lives. I knew that many had nowhere to go and continued to work for their former masters. I knew that attitudes don't change overnight. What I learned from this book was that former slaves could be charged with vagrancy if they couldn't prove they were employed and leased out to work on the plantations, as if nothing had changed.
There's no candy coating in either of the books. The horrors of having children taken away and being treated like abused animals is brought home in the stories of people's lives. The 'N' word is used where historically accurate. But the main characters include white people too, some who are a product of their entitled environment and then there's Lisbeth, who rejects that attitude, having been effectively brought up by her black nurse and recognising the wrongs in how slaves were treated.
Both of these books had me putting aside all my other reads to see what happened. The writing wasn't quite as good in this one as the first one, but it still held my interest more than most books. Very highly recommended.
August 17, 2019
Sollte jeder lesen. Genauso gut wie "Der gelbe Krokus."
Es gibt viele Bücher zu Sklaverei, für mich war aber dieses das Erste, das die Zeit danach behandelt.
Deshalb ist das Thema geschichtlich interessant, vor allem aber auch menschlich. Hass, Gewalt, Ungerechtigkeit und wie wichtig Glaube und Hoffnung sind. Und die Frage: Was ist eigentlich Freiheit?
"Die Freiheit gibt mir nichts zu essen."
Lisbeths Familie hat ihr nie verziehen hat, dass sie einen Gegner der Sklaverei geheiratet hat und keinen Wert auf Wohlstand und sozialen Status legt. Nach dem Bürgerkrieg kehrt sie zurück weil ihr Vater, der ihr immer erzählt hat, dass versklavte Menschen einer unterlegenen Rasse angehören und seiner Fürsorge bedürfen, im Sterben liegt.
Gleichzeitig ist Mattie, Lisbeths ehemalige farbige Amme, mit ihren erwachsenen, studierten Kindern dort um Verwandte in Sicherheit zu bringen. Für ihre Tochter Jordan, die gebildete Lehrerin, die Lisbeths Kinder unterrichtet, sind Geschichten von früher nur Mythen. Ihre Eltern, die nicht begreifen, dass die Welt sich verändert und Farbige nun Rechte haben, sind ihr peinlich.
Aber Lisbeths Bruder will Rache und hat es auf Matties Sohn Samuel abgesehen. Mattie hatte keine Illusionen aber Lisbeth muss erkennen wie wenig sich in den Südstaaten verändert hat und wie machtlos sie gegen die willkürliche Gewalt ist. Und Jordan sieht, dass die Abscheulichkeit mehr Facetten hat als sie begreifen kann und dass es Menschen gibt die entschlossen sind andere zu unterdrücken.
Besonders die Bemerkungen von Lisbeths Kindern, dass ihre Großmutter und der Onkel noch nicht wissen, dass die Sklaverei abgeschafft wurde, verdeutlicht die umstrittene Situation.
Durch die Augen der farbigen Kinder, die nicht wissen was aus ihren Familien geworden ist, erkennt man das Elend noch viel deutlicher. Die Anzeigen von befreiten Sklaven, die ihre Kinder und Angehörigen suchen, sind herzzerreißend.
Und die Lehrerin, die sich um Neger kümmert, weil sie nie die Intelligenz von Weißen erreichen werden macht einen wütend und verdeutlicht, dass die Moral menschlichen Zusammenlebens genauso wichtig ist wie Rechnen und Schreiben.
Lisbeth und Mattie habe ich schon im letzten Buch ins Herz geschlossen, hier kommt noch Jordan dazu, die oft ignorant scheint aber authentisch und sympathisch ist. Wenn die mal gewusst hätte, dass Rassismus auch 150 Jahre später noch ein Thema ist.
Frustrierte Plantagenbesitzer, die die Verluste nicht verkraften können und das an den Sklaven auslassen, die zu eingeschüchtert, zu schwach oder zu perspektivlos sind um zu gehen.
Die Gesetze, die erlassen wurden nachdem der Krieg verloren war, sind für mich ein ganz neues und interessantes Thema. Gesetze die den ehemaligen Sklaven helfen sollen ihren Platz in der Gesellschaft zu finden, jedoch genutzt werden um sie gefangen zu nehmen und als Arbeiter zu verleihen, zeigen, dass Freiheit subjektiv ist.
Insgesamt ein tolles Buch, eine wundervolle Geschichte und eine gelungene Fortsetzung. Dazu noch super geschrieben.
Es gibt viele Bücher zu Sklaverei, für mich war aber dieses das Erste, das die Zeit danach behandelt.
Deshalb ist das Thema geschichtlich interessant, vor allem aber auch menschlich. Hass, Gewalt, Ungerechtigkeit und wie wichtig Glaube und Hoffnung sind. Und die Frage: Was ist eigentlich Freiheit?
"Die Freiheit gibt mir nichts zu essen."
Lisbeths Familie hat ihr nie verziehen hat, dass sie einen Gegner der Sklaverei geheiratet hat und keinen Wert auf Wohlstand und sozialen Status legt. Nach dem Bürgerkrieg kehrt sie zurück weil ihr Vater, der ihr immer erzählt hat, dass versklavte Menschen einer unterlegenen Rasse angehören und seiner Fürsorge bedürfen, im Sterben liegt.
Gleichzeitig ist Mattie, Lisbeths ehemalige farbige Amme, mit ihren erwachsenen, studierten Kindern dort um Verwandte in Sicherheit zu bringen. Für ihre Tochter Jordan, die gebildete Lehrerin, die Lisbeths Kinder unterrichtet, sind Geschichten von früher nur Mythen. Ihre Eltern, die nicht begreifen, dass die Welt sich verändert und Farbige nun Rechte haben, sind ihr peinlich.
Aber Lisbeths Bruder will Rache und hat es auf Matties Sohn Samuel abgesehen. Mattie hatte keine Illusionen aber Lisbeth muss erkennen wie wenig sich in den Südstaaten verändert hat und wie machtlos sie gegen die willkürliche Gewalt ist. Und Jordan sieht, dass die Abscheulichkeit mehr Facetten hat als sie begreifen kann und dass es Menschen gibt die entschlossen sind andere zu unterdrücken.
Besonders die Bemerkungen von Lisbeths Kindern, dass ihre Großmutter und der Onkel noch nicht wissen, dass die Sklaverei abgeschafft wurde, verdeutlicht die umstrittene Situation.
Durch die Augen der farbigen Kinder, die nicht wissen was aus ihren Familien geworden ist, erkennt man das Elend noch viel deutlicher. Die Anzeigen von befreiten Sklaven, die ihre Kinder und Angehörigen suchen, sind herzzerreißend.
Und die Lehrerin, die sich um Neger kümmert, weil sie nie die Intelligenz von Weißen erreichen werden macht einen wütend und verdeutlicht, dass die Moral menschlichen Zusammenlebens genauso wichtig ist wie Rechnen und Schreiben.
Lisbeth und Mattie habe ich schon im letzten Buch ins Herz geschlossen, hier kommt noch Jordan dazu, die oft ignorant scheint aber authentisch und sympathisch ist. Wenn die mal gewusst hätte, dass Rassismus auch 150 Jahre später noch ein Thema ist.
Frustrierte Plantagenbesitzer, die die Verluste nicht verkraften können und das an den Sklaven auslassen, die zu eingeschüchtert, zu schwach oder zu perspektivlos sind um zu gehen.
Die Gesetze, die erlassen wurden nachdem der Krieg verloren war, sind für mich ein ganz neues und interessantes Thema. Gesetze die den ehemaligen Sklaven helfen sollen ihren Platz in der Gesellschaft zu finden, jedoch genutzt werden um sie gefangen zu nehmen und als Arbeiter zu verleihen, zeigen, dass Freiheit subjektiv ist.
Insgesamt ein tolles Buch, eine wundervolle Geschichte und eine gelungene Fortsetzung. Dazu noch super geschrieben.
January 30, 2023
Emotivo y bien relatado , una historia que nos deja un mensaje sobre sentimientos, justicia , ideales, amistad, amor.
Una época que no se puede olvidar.
Una época que no se puede olvidar.
December 28, 2017
Heart Wrenching!!!! A praiseworthy sequel to Yellow Crocus. I recommend reading the latter first, it will enrich your experience and help develop a deeper understanding and connection with the characters.
This book is about humans at their best and their worst. It is about family (by blood or choice), faith, courage and convictions. It is also about injustice, racism and the inability to forgive or move on. We found all of these immersed in the historical background of post-Civil War Virginia. The book's characters are mainly the members of two extended families connected by both love and the scars of slavery.
Mustard Seed's emotional tension impregnates the book throughout every chapter: the freed woman who cannot leave her relatives in the cruel hands of a Virginian "massa" (Mattie); the daughter/sister seeking her parents' and brother's forgiveness and affection (Lisbeth); the progressive teacher who cannot understand her parents apprehension and world views since she did not experienced slavery (Jordan); the men who acted based on their convictions and challenged the status quo with, sometimes, horrible consequences (Emmanuel, Samuel, William, Matthew, his father and brothers); the children either born free or slaves, who tried to navigate their circumstances the best they could (Sammy, Sadie, Johnny, Willy, Ella and, Tessie); the people who suffered incredible losses during the war and, last but not least, the men who fought for either side and had the emotional scars as, sometimes the only, unifying element.
At the heart of this book is the wrenching truth that laws do not change people. People's actions come from their beliefs and emotions. We are still fighting the belief that some humans are inferior to others, usually for just one reason, they are different: race, ethnicity, gender, religion, language, education, socioeconomic status, sexual preferences, views, etc. And there are still lot of people in power positions who, not only act based on it, but who proclaim it as The Thruth.
I found Yellow Crocus more personal, more intimate. It's character development was richer. Nonetheless, Mustard Seed also touched me deeply.
This book is about humans at their best and their worst. It is about family (by blood or choice), faith, courage and convictions. It is also about injustice, racism and the inability to forgive or move on. We found all of these immersed in the historical background of post-Civil War Virginia. The book's characters are mainly the members of two extended families connected by both love and the scars of slavery.
Mustard Seed's emotional tension impregnates the book throughout every chapter: the freed woman who cannot leave her relatives in the cruel hands of a Virginian "massa" (Mattie); the daughter/sister seeking her parents' and brother's forgiveness and affection (Lisbeth); the progressive teacher who cannot understand her parents apprehension and world views since she did not experienced slavery (Jordan); the men who acted based on their convictions and challenged the status quo with, sometimes, horrible consequences (Emmanuel, Samuel, William, Matthew, his father and brothers); the children either born free or slaves, who tried to navigate their circumstances the best they could (Sammy, Sadie, Johnny, Willy, Ella and, Tessie); the people who suffered incredible losses during the war and, last but not least, the men who fought for either side and had the emotional scars as, sometimes the only, unifying element.
At the heart of this book is the wrenching truth that laws do not change people. People's actions come from their beliefs and emotions. We are still fighting the belief that some humans are inferior to others, usually for just one reason, they are different: race, ethnicity, gender, religion, language, education, socioeconomic status, sexual preferences, views, etc. And there are still lot of people in power positions who, not only act based on it, but who proclaim it as The Thruth.
I found Yellow Crocus more personal, more intimate. It's character development was richer. Nonetheless, Mustard Seed also touched me deeply.
August 9, 2019
The three stars are for good intentions. I would have to say that all the inherent flaws in her Yellow Crocus were magnified in this sequel. The number of unlikely coincidences -- that both the Freedman and the Johnson families would end up back at the plantation at the same moment, for example -- and cliches and bad word choices in the writing proliferated. Sadly, the author seems to have landed back in that 9th grade creative writing classroom where the teacher instructed the students that adjectives were good! and to use the thesaurus so as not to overuse "he said" and "she said", leading to a proliferation of, most notably, "explained," often used inappropriately. Like in the first book, if I had heard the adjective "lovely" one more time (I listened to this, read by the wonderful Bahni Turpin), I was going to leap out the car window. No poor noun went unmodified.
Also, the delineation of the characters became more unlikely and cliched. Mattie, who came across as a well-rounded and believable character in the first book, is now a superhero -- dispensing wisdom like a shaman, beating back the bad guy plantation owners with sticks and vanquishing them, finding lost children, appearing whenever needed. I hate to say it, but she went from multi-faceted in a realistic way to...the horrible cliche of the "Magic Negro."
I believe the author is very earnest and well-meaning, and both books are a result of that. The story is basically a good and gripping and important one, if overladen with unlikely coincidences. But the execution was... unfortunate.
Also, the delineation of the characters became more unlikely and cliched. Mattie, who came across as a well-rounded and believable character in the first book, is now a superhero -- dispensing wisdom like a shaman, beating back the bad guy plantation owners with sticks and vanquishing them, finding lost children, appearing whenever needed. I hate to say it, but she went from multi-faceted in a realistic way to...the horrible cliche of the "Magic Negro."
I believe the author is very earnest and well-meaning, and both books are a result of that. The story is basically a good and gripping and important one, if overladen with unlikely coincidences. But the execution was... unfortunate.
July 12, 2019
I’m so glad I read this book. It was the perfect selection for Black History Month.
Given the subject matter, it’s too uncomfortable for me to say “I loved this book”.
There are many difficult parts to the story, but the main theme is love and faith, which is what I enjoyed. I also felt reading this story helped further my education and understanding of American history. Although this is fiction, the story is not. There are thousands of people whose story was told here.
I do not have a lot of experience with what I’m calling “educational-political historical fiction.” This is more than a story that takes place during a certain time period.
This novel explores many political and historical issues. (TBH, it shocked me how much we are still dealing with some of these issues today.)
If you want to learn more about this part of American history (13th Amendment) but find history books or documentaries too dry (if you do best with narratives or fiction reading) this is a terrific choice and it will expose you too All sides, perspectives and beliefs held during this period.
Given the subject matter, it’s too uncomfortable for me to say “I loved this book”.
There are many difficult parts to the story, but the main theme is love and faith, which is what I enjoyed. I also felt reading this story helped further my education and understanding of American history. Although this is fiction, the story is not. There are thousands of people whose story was told here.
I do not have a lot of experience with what I’m calling “educational-political historical fiction.” This is more than a story that takes place during a certain time period.
This novel explores many political and historical issues. (TBH, it shocked me how much we are still dealing with some of these issues today.)
If you want to learn more about this part of American history (13th Amendment) but find history books or documentaries too dry (if you do best with narratives or fiction reading) this is a terrific choice and it will expose you too All sides, perspectives and beliefs held during this period.
did-not-finish
May 16, 2020I liked the first book (Yellow Crocus) for the most part, but this one was just too preachy for me. I think that was the point - the younger generation was learning for themselves and learning from the previous generation about the Civil War and all that each side experienced and did. But it just got really bogged down in moralistic commentary and speechifying from various parties, so I gave up on it.
July 11, 2020
I loved Yellow Crocus so was very much looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I found it bland and predictable. A nice idea but a simple plot of good vs evil with an obvious victor.
February 28, 2021
4.5. Second in a series about the 1800’s and civil war outcome and what it meant for a white girl and her beloved wet nurse who was far more a mother than her actual mother.
October 1, 2024
I loved the dual POV this book has. Although I would have loved to get back into Mattie's head as well. She is such an amazing character. Lizbeth has come such a long way and I think she did a great job raising her kids What a tricky situation to navigate and right after the war ended too. Lots to think about. How these stories intertwined was near perfection. I feel that the darker side to everything going on was watered down but otherwise felt very real. Almost 5 stars!
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